Why I walk for CJD....its now 27 years since my Dad, Charles Hildenbrand died from Cruetzfeldt Jakob Disease, aka CJD. My son was 8 and only knew his Grandpa a short while. My 3 nephews never got to meet their Grandpa. He was 64, retired 2 years in the prime of his life. and was gone 3 months from onset to death. Multiple Drs and hospital stays, misdiagnosis and ineffective mistreatments, the average pain a family goes thru with this disease as many Drs are not even aware of it. Dad was diagnosed finally with a brain biopsy and died within 10 days.
We have made progress...baby steps but in the right direction. They now have a sterilization system that is used on the equipment for the biopsy. 27 years ago, it had to be properly disposed of as the tissue is so highly transmittable and the nuerosurgen did not want to expose his surgical staff at all. They now have a less invasive biopsy procedure not requirng the brain and skull to be penetrated. And as of this past year, there is a drug trial for diagnosed patients!!! (Currently no treatment exists and it is always fatal)
I walk to raise funds for the CJD Foundation to educate the medical community of this disease, to support the families afflicted, to advance research and hopefully prevent other families from going thru what our family endured. I hope to see a treatment in my lifetime and better yet a cure and preventiive. All the money we raise goes directly to the CJD Foundation and all we provide at the Walk is donated and volunteer directed.
So please join us at the walk-it is fun with raffles, refreshments, games, and great people! And if you cannot make it, any donation large or small will so greatly be appreciated.
Team Hildenbrand Halo thanks you form all our hearts,
Darlene
Donna Britton $620.00
James Chorman